Oct 30 (Reuters) -
Japanese rubber futures dipped on Thursday as concerns over a deepening semiconductor shortage and slowing electric vehicle demand weighed on the auto industry.
The Osaka Exchange (OSE) rubber contract for April delivery JRUc6, 0#2JRU: was down 3.3 yen, or 1.05%, at 311.6 yen($2.07) per kg, as of 0303 GMT.
The rubber contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE) for January delivery SNRv1 rose 30 yuan, or 0.19%, to 15,475 yuan ($2,172.54) per metric ton.
The most active December butadiene rubber contract on the SHFE SHBRv1 gained 145 yuan, or 1.36%, to 10,790 yuan per metric ton.
Leading automakers Nissan Motor 7201.T and Mercedes-Benz MBGn.DE are the latest global car makers to raise concerns over a worsening semiconductor shortage, as a dispute between the Netherlands and China over Dutch chipmaker Nexperia continues to disrupt vehicle production.
Elsewhere, major automaker General Motors GM.N said on Wednesday that it would cut U.S. electric vehicle and battery production in response to a significant slowdown in demand for its battery cars.
Automobile sales could influence the intensity of automobile manufacturing, which involves using rubber-made tyres.
Some executives and analysts have said that EV sales, which exceeded 10% of overall U.S. car sales over the summer, could fall by half in the coming months.
The yen JPY=EBS hovered near an eight-month low against a resurgent dollar at 152.59. USD/
A weaker currency makes yen-denominated assets more affordable to overseas buyers. FRX/
Oil prices were steady as investors awaited U.S.-China trade talks later in the day. O/R
Natural rubber often takes direction from oil prices as it competes for market share with synthetic rubber, which is made from crude oil.
The front-month rubber contract on Singapore Exchange's SICOM platform for November delivery STFc1 last traded at 175.7 U.S. cents per kg, down 0.3%.
($1 = 150.7800 yen)
($1 = 7.1230 Chinese yuan)
(Reporting by Lucas Liew; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips)
((Lucas.Liew@thomsonreuters.com;))